Unit Synopsis
In this unit, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to program, interface, and control microcontroller-based embedded systems using structured programming techniques. The unit introduces the architecture and core principles of embedded systems, covering key programming elements such as data types, loops, branching statements, and functions. You will also explore advanced topics, including interrupt handling, timers, and interfacing with peripherals, analogue and digital sensors, and external devices through various communication protocols. Through hands-on laboratory exercises, you will design, prototype, and test embedded systems using commercially available microcontrollers. The unit culminates in a final project where you will design and implement a real-world embedded application. To complete the compulsory practical activities and project, you will need to purchase specific hardware components. Details of the required components and associated costs are available on the unit Moodle site. This unit supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by highlighting how microcontroller-based systems enable low-cost automation and innovation in small-scale industrial applications.
Details
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 8 |
| Credit Points | 12 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.25 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
ENEE14006 Embedded Microcontrollers is an Anti-Requisite for this unit. Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School |
Compulsory Residential School View Unit Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2027
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Assessment Tasks
To see assessment details from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Source: Unit Coordinator's Reflection
Many disengaged students failed to complete the formative assessment, leading to lower grades.
The disengaged students should be identified through the completion of formative assessments, and additional support should be provided to those students.
Additional support was provided by employing a casual academic for the MEL campus. The ROK student also received extra support, delivered remotely and through one visit to the ROK campus.
Source: SUTE Survey
Some students failed to identify the relevance of the unit content to their degree.
During the workshops, students should be informed about how the skills and knowledge they gain from this unit can be applied to their future careers.
During workshops, the tutor and I explicitly highlighted the relevance of unit content to real-world contexts and future career pathways.
Source: Self-reflection
Students have found some assessments in this unit challenging.
The Unit Coordinator should review the curriculum and assessment design to ensure an appropriate workload, clear expectations, and effective sequencing of assessment tasks to support student learning.
In Progress
To see Learning Outcomes from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.